The AfD And its representatives in the local elections were unable to surprise and were defeated in the three municipalities, which they claimed in Northern Rhine-Westphalia. At the same time, a historical defeat was suffered by the Social Democratic Party (SPD)
In Dortmund in Germany.
In Gelzenkirchen, a stronghold of the Social Democrats, SPD candidate Andrea Hendce, with 66.9% of the votes, prevailed in the repeat round of AfD candidate Norbert Emeric, who received 33.1%. In Germany’s federal elections in February, the Christian Democratic Party (CDU) with AFD in second place and SPD in the third was raised, charging the decline of carbon and steel industries. In 2024 Gelzenkirchen recorded the highest unemployment rate in Germany, with 14.8%.
Duizburg mayor Zeren Link (SPD) received 78.6% of the vote, while his opponent from AfD Carsten Gros was limited to 21.4%. Link has already completed 13 years in the municipality and was credited that he has successfully fought fraud against the social welfare system.
In Hagen, CDU candidate Denis Rebain prevailed with 71.7% of Michael ‘EHEE from AfD, who received 28.3% of the vote.
In Dortmund the SPD lost the municipality after 80 years.
With 52.9%, CDU candidate Alexander Kalouti, originally from Lebanon, won the SPD Mayor Thomas Vestefal, who garnered 47.08% of his fellow citizens.
On the contrary, in Oberhausen, the SPD won the municipality from the CDU after 10 years. Torsten Berg received 51% against 49% of the current Mayor Daniel Srandz, who has been in place since 2015.